MONTRÉAL, July 3, 2024
/CNW/ - Cultural and community centres are essential to healthy and
prosperous communities. They bring Canadians together and make our
communities great places to live, play, and raise a family. That's
why we're making investments in community infrastructure across the
country – to grow spaces where families can succeed.
The Prime Minister, Justin
Trudeau, today announced a federal investment of more than
$33 million to support three modern,
accessible, and environmentally friendly community infrastructure
projects in Montréal, Quebec.
These projects include the construction of a recreation and
community centre in Parc-Extension and a community house in
Saint-Michel, both built to
carbon-neutral standards that will make them energy efficient. The
projects will also include the renovation of the future location of
the Afrique au féminin organization, also in the Parc-Extension
neighbourhood. Funded through the Green and Inclusive Community
Buildings program, these new and renovated facilities will provide
new shared spaces where the community can come together, host
events, and celebrate special occasions.
With today's announcement, the federal government has already
invested over $1.1 billion through
the program to support community infrastructure projects across
Canada. These investments are
improving where Canadians work, learn, live, and come together,
while cutting pollution, reducing costs, and supporting good jobs.
We will continue to make investments to strengthen our communities
and build a better, fairer future for every generation.
Quotes
"Today's announcement is great news for the
people of Montréal. Our government is fast-tracking housing
construction and investing in modern and sustainable infrastructure
right across the country. With the projects announced today,
communities will have the vibrant spaces they deserve – spaces
where people living in Papineau and its surrounding neighbourhoods
can come together, celebrate special occasions, and reach their
full potential."
— The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime
Minister of Canada
"Community buildings are at the heart of Canadian cities and
municipalities. Today's funding will go toward the construction and
renovation of three modern, energy-efficient community centres,
where residents of the Parc-Extension and Saint-Michel neighbourhoods will be able to
come together to share, entertain, and enjoy enriching experiences.
The construction of new, environmentally friendly buildings will
help Canadians create healthier communities, while contributing to
a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come."
— The Hon. Sean Fraser, Minister of
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
"The Parc-Extension Community Centre is not just a financial
investment, it's a powerful symbol of support and development for
our neighbourhood. This project is the result of unfailing
consultation and determination with local stakeholders. It reflects
our commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible space for
all residents. This initiative strengthens social ties and promotes
inclusion by advancing diversity – the true wealth of our
community. This is a victory for the entire Parc-Extension
community. Together, we've proven that great things can be achieved
through unity."
— Salwa Ben Belgacem, Executive
Director of the Table de Quartier de Parc-Extension
"The construction of the Saint-Michel Community House marks a
crucial step toward a sustainable and inclusive future for our
neighbourhood. This green, innovative building will become a true
living environment where residents of all ages and backgrounds can
access essential resources and forge strong ties for generations to
come. Together, we're creating a space that reflects the values of
diversity, solidarity, and community at the heart of Saint-Michel."
— Isabelle Tremblay, Chair of the
Board for Saint-Michel, quartier
de l'innovation sociale
"Afrique au féminin expresses its deep gratitude for the federal
Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program and its
unconditional financial support for our mission. It goes without
saying that situations of exclusion and poverty in Montréal and
elsewhere continue to be exacerbated by the challenges we face.
Despite this, Afrique au féminin plays a crucial role in
demonstrating its importance and its deep roots with the citizens
of Parc-Extension in order to act in solidarity to improve and
deliver services."
— Rose Ndjel, Executive Director of Afrique au féminin
Quick Facts
- The federal investment of more than $33 million announced
today through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB)
program will be distributed as follows:
- More than $18.3 million for the
construction of the Parc-Extension Recreation and Community Centre.
This carbon-neutral, multi-generational community centre will be a
place where people can come together, connect, learn, and enjoy
recreational activities, integrating community resources to
strengthen the neighbourhood's social fabric. The building will
include various multipurpose spaces, such as meeting rooms, common
areas, a gym, a community kitchen, and offices for local
organizations.
- More than $11.6 million for the
construction of the Saint-Michel Community House. This three-floor
building will house numerous community organizations from the
neighbourhood to meet the needs of local residents of all ages. The
building will be carbon-neutral and feature an industrial kitchen
as well as a multipurpose room for use by organizations and the
public.
- More than $3.7 million for the
renovation of the future location of Afrique au féminin, located at
8305 Durocher Street, in Montréal. Renovations include the
construction of two floors, the expansion of the north side of the
building, the installation of a green roof and new windows, better
insulation, and the implementation of modern mechanical and
electrical systems to provide a comfortable experience for users.
Additionally, paved areas outside the building will be turned into
green spaces. With this new location, the organization will be
better equipped to serve people in the northern part of
Parc-Extension, a low-income residential community with a shortage
of community resources.
- Launched in 2021 with an initial investment of $1.5 billion over five years, the GICB
program supports green and accessible retrofits, repairs, or
upgrades of existing community buildings, as well as the
construction of new publicly accessible community buildings that
serve high-need, underserved communities across Canada.
- In Budget 2024, the federal government announced an
additional $500 million over five years, beginning in
2024-25, to support more projects through the GICB program.
- At least 10 per cent of GICB funding is allocated to projects
supporting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, including
Indigenous populations located in urban centres.
- The GICB program supports the first pillar of Canada's Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy
Environment and a Healthy Economy by helping to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and to increase the energy efficiency of
public buildings, strengthening our resilience to climate
change.
- The GICB program is also part of the 2030 Emissions
Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy, a sector-by-sector
roadmap to identify climate action and strategies that will enable
Canada to achieve its target to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40-45 per cent below 2005 levels
by 2030.
Associated Links
- Green and Inclusive Community Buildings
- Canada's Strengthened
Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy
- 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong
Economy
- Infrastructure in Quebec
This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca
SOURCE Prime Minister's Office